The United Progressive Alliance, which is led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Jharkhand, is trying its best to keep the flock intact despite an imminent threat to membership of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the State Legislative Assembly.
While the Governor House is silent on the letter sent by ECI in the office of profit case against Soren, the UPA is weighing different options for the future if the worst becomes inevitable. Two meetings of UPA legislators were called on Friday at CM’s official residence, which was attended by 37 MLAs of flock. Some of MLAs could not join the meetings for being away from city or on medical, legal grounds. JMM insiders said that in both the meetings it was clearly asked to MLAs not to move away from Capital city and be ready for any situation that may come after Raj Bhawan takes action on recommendation of ECI. While media houses across the country on Friday were quick enough to announce (attributing to sources) that Governor Ramesh Bais has given his recommendation to cancel membership of House of Soren, the MLAs attending meetings feigned ignorance on issue and said that they were ready for any situation. In the meeting of the UPA legislature party called in the evening, all the MLAs of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress reached one by one. Congress Legislature Party leader Alamgir Alam and party working president Bandhu Tirkey also attended meeting. Senior Congress leader and State Finance Minister Dr. Rameshwar Oraon, who came to participate in meeting, said that it is not clear whether Chief Minister's membership of House has gone or not. Even if it is, then Grand Alliance has a majority. On the question of CM face, he said that face does not matter.
State Congress working president Bandhu Tirkey said that no official statement has come out from the Raj Bhavan so far. “Whatever I have heard is from the media.
The strategy will be made only after official announcement is made,” he said. Targeting the main opposition party, Tirkey said that BJP is trying to set a narrative. All this has been done under a well-planned conspiracy. Jharia MLA Purnima Neeraj Singh said that whatever political stories are being made they are being made by the media only. She said that she has no information about EC letter to the Governor or CM’s membership of the House.
Notably, media reports suggest that the Raj Bhawan will send its recommendation to the ECI tomorrow about CM Hemant Soren case and after that the ECI may issue a notification suggesting removal of legislatureship of CM Hemant Soren from the House.
However, in any case, the UPA members in State are confident as they have sufficient numbers to form a government in State with or without Hemant Soren being CM. In 81 member House UPA has 49 members of its own. This includes 30 MLAs of JMM, 18 of Congress and one MLA from RJD. A couple of independent MLAs are also supporting the government.